YZ450FX IS ON IT'S WAY

nucular

My YZ250FX starts first kick hot or cold. You mean it won't kick start without a battery in it?

What altitude do you ride at? I can't start my FX by kicking from cold - only once it is warmed up.

Similar sentiments here. I'm getting older and weaker and the 450Fs are making more power than I can use most of the time. I'm finding the 250FX has more than enough power most of the time and is easier to manage all of the time so it will be my primary ride especially at night and in Baja. I reserve the right to change my mind but seriously the FX is a versatile ride.

I went from a 450F to the FX and I couldn't be happier. I ride mostly XC and spend most of my time in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The FX has the exact amount of power for what I do. I felt like it was easy for the 450 to get away from me especially when i started getting tired.

Wiz636

The WR felt better and probably is better overall then the YZF for a typical trail guy. The YZF is awesome for a racer but is too much bike 50% of the time. The handling and performance of the YZF are beyond unreal but when the going gets tough, unless you have some decent skill you'll never use the bike potential. You'll never make it out of 3rd gear in normal trail riding. The power is so broad and with the flick of the wrist literally jumps out from underneath you. I also find the bike too tall. I've got a call in for a 250FX as I'm taking a step back from racing.

I agree with Monk on this...I've seen him migrate down from BC to wax the guys in his class here in the Seattle area. If you're a fast, aggressive trail rider you'll love a properly set up YZ in the woods. I love my '13 YZ in the woods but even with a Rekluse I'm still clutching it a lot simply to smooth out the power. I would NEVER gear down a YZ for the woods...all you will accomplish is to make it jerky and over-sensitive to small throttle modulations, as well as making an already close ratio tranny into an even closer ratio tranny. And really, if you're always riding somewhere where you need to be in first gear most of the time then a YZ is not the best bike.

I think a YZ450FX will be an epic bike! But have no illusions, it will be a race bike.

cubera

What altitude do you ride at? I can't start my FX by kicking from cold - only once it is warmed up.

I went from a 450F to the FX and I couldn't be happier. I ride mostly XC and spend most of my time in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The FX has the exact amount of power for what I do. I felt like it was easy for the 450 to get away from me especially when i started getting tired.

I'm at sea level. "Aggressive" mapping and full FMF Megabomb exhaust. I found it would sign off a bit early with the sparky and that problem was fixed with the FMF Megabomb. Bike runs excellent bottom to top. Hard to believe it's only a 250cc motor. I like it so much I don't really want to ride the WR much since by comparison it is such a crate. One other improvement is I replaced the battery with a Shorai. It cranks harder and starts easier with the button in or out of gear. Shaved some weight also. I run the bike in triple digit heat this time of year and even that does not seem to phase it. I have a WR fan installed and it barely runs unless I'm dogging it in rock beds or some other terrible situation.

shrubitup

With the mix and match Yamaha parts system, you can make any of these bikes into any of the others without too much difficulty.

One can do same with various KTM parts bins too but KTM makes it easy on the consumer and offers bikes ready to go - ultimately providing consumer choice - which is what Yamaha is doing here too. What's the issue again? Oh that's right, you're saying one should make their own like yours and if a OEM offers something that the consumer can also create then it's bad. We will wait and see on the 450FX transmission which may differentiate it further from a WR/YZ.

n16ht5

The WR felt better and probably is better overall then the YZF for a typical trail guy. The YZF is awesome for a racer but is too much bike 50% of the time. The handling and performance of the YZF are beyond unreal but when the going gets tough, unless you have some decent skill you'll never use the bike potential. You'll never make it out of 3rd gear in normal trail riding. The power is so broad and with the flick of the wrist literally jumps out from underneath you. I also find the bike too tall. I've got a call in for a 250FX as I'm taking a step back from racing.

I sold my WR450 and got a YZ450F, split the cases before I even rode it and put in WR gears. So much better for singletrack. The WRF feels like a pig with junk forks now. Love the YZF power. Like a hammer

KennyMc

I sold my WR450 and got a YZ450F, split the cases before I even rode it and put in WR gears. So much better for singletrack. The WRF feels like a pig with junk forks now. Love the YZF power. Like a hammer

Summit

Agree!! If the yz had elec. start I'd have one by now. That's really the only must have for me. Don't want lights and you can easily add a little flywheel weight, some handguards, maybe gear down a little and I'd be happy. I could get by with the 5 spd. too.

YHGEORGE

I ride in tight woods and the 250FX a couple friends have is very adequate with very few mods. If the new 450 FX is not substantially lighter than the WR I don't see the point. I think the serious A riders racing offroad will still go to the YZ. Physics is physics, weight is a factor in a competitive two/three hour event. In an ever shrinking market I can't see Yamaha supporting both models. Also, I can definitely see Krannie choosing the pink model, yes I can.

Krannie McKranface

I ride in tight woods and the 250FX a couple friends have is very adequate with very few mods. If the new 450 FX is not substantially lighter than the WR I don't see the point. I think the serious A riders racing offroad will still go to the YZ. Physics is physics, weight is a factor in a competitive two/three hour event. In an ever shrinking market I can't see Yamaha supporting both models. Also, I can definitely see Krannie choosing the pink model, yes I can.

Woods? What are 'woods'.

An FX is going to be 9-16lbs heavier than a YZ, and 26 lighter than a WR.

...and it will have real power.

I have a Pink bike. It's a Honda with Polisport replacement plastics.............

patrick2wd

270winchester

I sure am glad to see Yamaha address the different segments of riding. I'm not interested in the slow, gnarly trial like single track a lot of the KTM riders favor. I like fast, open trails and my WR is perfect for me. I will look closely at the 2tx and the yz450x once they are available. The straight yz450 is bad A on an mx track. A lot more power than a wr...

MidlifeCrisisGuy

So the 2016 YZ450F weighs #247 curb. If you add #16 for the FX model which would be for the starter, battery, wiring, heavier crank to accommodate the extra gear, side stand, etc., the FX would curb at #265. That's not as obese as it might sound and is certainly at a competitive weight as is. Take about #10 off right out of the gate with an FMFexhaust, Shorai battery, and replacement of a few things with TM Designworks and your looking at a curb of #255. That's excellent IMHO.